2018 cars

This sport red paint scheme is standard with the 2018 Regal GS.Other colors are available for an extra cost.

We have a new Buick Regal to consider, but it probably isn’t the model you think it is. Indeed, for 2018 the Regal offers two body styles — a wagon and a hatchback — replacing the previous sedan. As before, the Regal is a midsize model with some upscale features.

Before we examine the model at hand, let’s take a look at the Regal name, which has been used by Buick since 1973, although it had disappeared for a while earlier this millennium. During the years it was absent in North America, the Regal continued in China.

Beginning in 2010, the Buick Regal made its North American return, thanks to Opel and the Insignia sedan on which it was based. That model was built in Germany for its first year, then in Canada until the fifth-generation Regal came to an end in 2017.

Starting in 2018, an all-new Regal rolled out. The sedan is gone as well as the Canadian production that previously supported it. For the latest model, Buick turned to Opel and its factory in Germany to supply two new body styles: a wagon (which we covered here) and a four-door hatchback or Sportback model. That latter model is offered as the Regal Sportback or Regal GS. I had the GS, which is a name that represents the performance model in the Regal line.

Happily, the 2018 Regal GS lives up to the previous model, while striking out in a new design direction. We’ll drill down on the new vehicle’s particulars, including the changes for this new sixth-generation model.

The GS’ profile gives only the slightest hint that this sedan is actually a hatchback.

2018 Buick Regal GS Overview

Buick markets the GS separately from the Sportback, although it essentially serves as the top-tier trim for that body style.

What is especially noteworthy about the GS is that instead of offering the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Sportback and TourX wagon, the Regal GS gets GM’s 3.6-liter V6 engine. That engine powers the full-size LaCrosse sedan and the Enclave crossover. GM pairs this engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The GS is all-wheel drive.

Sporty Silhouette

The 2018 Buick Regal GS starts at $39,990, inclusive of the delivery charge. Buick calls this model a “sport sedan” and at first glance it does have sedan-like proportions. That is, until you stand behind it and take note of the large glass window that slopes down to the notch-like rear. Kudos to the designers as this model looks nothing like the hatchbacks of yore.

It also doesn’t look like any Buick we’ve seen before. And that is a good thing. Evidently, Buick wants the new Regal to do for the model line in the new millennium, what it did in the 1980s — supply a handsome look with performance attributes.

The first indication the GS is a hatchback is with its large rear glass window.

The front fascia commands attention with its sleek headlamps and bold overall presence. Its intake is narrow and long, placing an aggressive stamp on its face. The GS’ profile is handsome too — you won’t find ornamental vent ports, but you will see functioning side marker lights. The appropriately placed character lines and body sculpting add flair.

The rear deck opens by pressing the Buick insignia. The liftgate lifts high, revealing a gaping storage compartment. If you never thought you’d consider a hatchback, the GS’ design invites you to take a closer look. If there is a change I would like to see is for the key fob to include an unlocking mechanism. There isn’t one and I couldn’t find a button inside for that either.

Cabin Contrasts

The GS’ cabin is roomy, comfortable, but it is also a contradiction of sorts. Its strongest attributes are its sporty front seats, which have heating, cooling and massaging features. They’re not Recaro seats, but they do supply superior neck, back, hip and thigh support over standard bucket seats.

The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat folds completely flat. When the full seat is down, the already generous storage capacity expands from 31.5 cubic feet to 60.7 cubic feet. It is this storage attribute that made hatchbacks appealing in the first place. In the Regal GS, the space seems incredibly large — you’ll have no trouble fitting a bicycle or other sporting gear inside. The rear seat headroom is sufficient, at least I found it was that way with my six-foot frame.

As for the interior layout, it features many more hard plastics and big buttons than we like. Where the exterior hits all the styling highlights, the cabin falls short — it could be so much better than it is. I recently drove the Kia Cadenza GT and was impressed by its upscale feel, something that’s missing in the Buick. The Kia costs less money too.

The standards feature list includes full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, leather seats and dual-zone climate control. The pedals are bright, but they’re not fully metallic.

The GS’ front sport seats enhance align with this model’s mission.

Tech and Safety

I’ve given Buick ample plaudits in the past for its in-cabin technologies and that praise continues with the new model. It begins with an OnStar plan featuring a three-month trial subscription. It continues with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a feature that has bailed me out more than once when I was in a remote location and needed Internet access.

Other features include an audio system with an 8-inch color touch-screen display, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, USB ports and satellite radio. Optional features include an 8-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio and navigation.

Beyond OnStar, stability and traction control, and a rearview camera, the GS offers several driver-assist technologies. The standard package includes lane change alert with side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert. You can also upgrade by choosing a Driver Confidence Package ($1,690). This package brings in such features as adaptive cruise control, following distance indicator, forward collision alert and forward automatic braking. It also has lane keep assist with lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking and a head-up display.

On the Road With the Buick Regal GS

The previous Regal GS utilized a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, this time it has a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine, which makes 310 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque. Buick pairs this engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and includes standard all-wheel drive with active dual clutch.

This is the first time in more than a decade that a midsize Buick model has a V6 engine. It is a very good match for the GS, as it delivers ample step-off acceleration and robust mid-range power when you need it. The only disappointment is the lack of paddle shifters, but at least the transmission moves quickly between gears. And if you must, you can move the shift lever to manual mode and control gear shifts that way.

Metal pedals and a thickly padded steering wheel are a GS feature.

What helps this model shine is its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. The system shifts power to the rear wheels when needed, then to the individual wheels on demand. This arrangement enables the Regal GS to hang twisty roads and pull out of corners with ease. Combine all this with weighted steering and a constantly adjusting suspension system and the GS has our attention.

One of the more curious arrangements is this Buick’s drive mode system. Instead of utilizing a dial to switch between normal, sport and GS modes, you’ll find switches at the base of the center console just ahead of the transmission stick.

Normal is the default mode, so you don’t do need to do anything there. When I pressed either of the switches, I expected noticeable changes in engine mapping, steering weight and exhaust sound, but it was hard to detect the changes.

So, although I liked the powertrain arrangement, the lack of paddle shifters and the hard-to-perceive drive mode changes are disappointments.

The GS is the lone Regal model powered by a V6 engine.

2018 Buick Regal GS Parting Thoughts

Buick prices the Regal Sportback from $25,915, offering four trims below the GS. In fact, the well-equipped Essence trim matches most of the GS’ attributes and costs $5,200 less. This means you get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission. You also get all-wheel drive.

All things considered, the 2018 Buick Regal GS delivers an outstanding exterior design, leading-edge technologies and decent performance. However, its interior trails the competition, including the Kia Stinger and the Audi A5 Sportback.

The midsize luxury sedan market includes many participants, with every manufacturer offering at least one model.

In Lexus’ case, you have a choice of two models: the ES or the GS. The former is front-wheel-drive only, thus its appeal is to a different group of buyer than the one interested in the GS. The GS comes with standard rear-wheel drive and has available all-wheel drive, which appeals to drivers looking for a performance edge.

Lexus offers the 2018 GS in GS 300 ($46,510), GS 300 F Sport ($51,100), GS 350 ($50,895) and GS F Sport ($52,260) trims. You can also choose a hybrid model, the GS 450h ($63,635) and GS 450h F Sport ($68,680). Last, but not least is the GS F, a rear-wheel-drive performance model retailing from $84,350. Add $1,025 for the destination charge across the model line. All prices mentioned here are for the rear-wheel-drive versions.

Changes for 2018 include renaming the GS 200t the GS 300. The GS 350 and 450h return unchanged. As for the GS F, this model now has full range adaptive cruise control, which means it works at all speeds. Further, lane keep assist is added to the lane departure warning system. Finally, the Lexus Enform Safety Connect and Service Connect telematics systems are now complimentary for 10 years.

On the performance side, the F Sport adds adaptive variable suspension with a sport+ mode. There is no power advantage with the F Sport, however.

2. You get V6-power all the way.

The GS 350 F Sport utilizes a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which is common to numerous Toyota and Lexus products. Thanks to a slight change in the engine’s compression ratio, this one bangs out 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque (compared to 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque in the 2018 ES).

The extra power, however, requires premium fuel. Lexus pairs this engine with an eight-speed automatic (six-speed automatic with all-wheel drive). This model makes an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

3. It comes well-equipped, but with some individual options.

The F Sport is an option package by itself, so there are no other packages to include. That said, you can find various individual options, including a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel ($150), a color heads-up display ($900) and a dynamic handling system, including dynamic rear steering ($1,700).

You can also upgrade to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System ($1,380), choose intuitive parking assist ($500), select a power open/close trunk ($400), go with a Torsen limited-slip differential ($500) or opt for premium triple-beam LED headlamps ($1,160). Claim every option and your final price will come in at $59,825.

4. This is one display screen we like.

Manufacturers have tried different ways to attach a display screen to the center stack. Some emerge from the top of the stack, while others are bolted to the upper section and look a lot like a portable device.

Most are fixed within the center stack and that’s what Lexus has done with the GS, but with an important twist: it resides within a sculpted alcove that pushes into the passenger section of the dashboard. This big 12.3-inch screen is clear, easy to read and unobtrusive. It also features a three-section home section display, which is customizable for audio, traffic, climate control and MID data sharing. You control it with a mouse-like device, which requires much practice before you are accustomed to it.

A navigation system is standard with the F Sport and that’s a good thing. It can take over the entire display, which makes it easier to read. I like the 3D building and landmark displays. It also serves up an estimated time of arrival for your traffic routes and supplies detour information.

5. The cabin is spacious, but then…

On paper, the Lexus GS seats five and it does. But if you’re a tall driver in need of maximum room, rear passenger space suddenly becomes cramped.

This is what sets the GS apart from the similar-sized Lexus ES. The ES has 40 inches of rear legroom to just 36.8 inches in the GS. Moreover, the GS has a pronounced drivetrain hump, while the front-wheel-drive ES has only a slightly raised reinforcing hump.

This “hump” point validates why Lexus also has the ES — it is the better of the two for rear passenger space. As for trunk room, the GS offers a robust 18.4 cubic feet to the ES’ modest 15.2 cubic feet. So, there are trade-offs with each model.

6. The little things add up to something big.

Manufacturers typically give me one week with a vehicle before it is replaced with something else. This timeframe isn’t very long, but it is long enough for me to do some exploring.

That said, I can usually quickly identify the good and the bad (and sometimes the ugly) of a vehicle. Fortunately, “ugly” and “GS” aren’t synonymous.

The GS has a nifty sliding armrest that locks into different positions as you open and close it. Inside are the USB ports and a place to stash your smartphone. You can easily access the phone without losing the benefit of the armrest. That’s important to drivers who sometimes face an either/or proposition.

Other desirable features include the power seat extender, the power-adjustable headrests and the one-touch open moonroof. I also found the power tilt-and-telescopic steering column helpful. One missing feature is a fold-down rear seat. In its place is a center pass-through, which can be handy for holding long items such as skis or a floor lamp.

7. Safety is a priority.

We’re in an era where safety is a priority across the industry. This is a good thing. What’s better is where advanced driver-assist safety equipment is supplied as standard equipment.

Sadly, many manufacturers offer these features as part of an expensive package upgrade. But not so with Lexus. Indeed, the 2018 GS comes with the “Lexus Safety System+” Package. This bundle includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, all-speed dynamic radar control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and intelligent high beams.

8. Let’s take a look at tech.

Does the Lexus GS have a weak area? Yes. That would be with its technology as you cannot find Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone compatibility in any Lexus product. Word has it that Apple CarPlay will begin appearing in some Lexus products for 2019, but maybe not all. Android users will have to wait. The omission makes sense as Toyota/Lexus is being very careful that user information is not compromised through its Entune suite. Once they’re certain of that, Android should follow.

What you do get is Siri Eyes Free. Again, this tool is only available with Apple smartphones. As for the standard audio package, it is a 12-speaker system, but the Mark Levinson option is simply inspiring.

On the Road: 2018 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

You need to manage your expectations when driving the GS 350 F Sport for there is a naturally aspirated V6 power under the hood. Yet, that power is more potent than the turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in GS 300 and that fact alone should leave any concern behind that the GS 350 isn’t up to the task.

Acceleration is strong and constant. A 0-60 mph time of just under 6 seconds is possible. This F Sport throws down 311 horsepower and bangs out 280 pound-feet of torque. The transmission complies, serving up and switching gears as needed. Switch to Sport+ mode and begin using the paddle shifters and you’ll enjoy the full benefit of this sedan. The F Sport attacks corners with precision and hangs curves with the best of them.

I mentioned to a friend that the GS is a driver’s car with all the steering, handling and stiffer ride benefits of the F Sport line. The exhaust toots and hums with that sound piped into the cabin. No, the F Sport isn’t a match for competing twin-turbo V6 models (that’s where the GS F comes in), but it supplies all the other attributes of a luxury sport sedan.

Parting Thoughts: 2018 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

The Lexus GS 350 F Sport supplies everything it must do to earn the luxury sport sedan label. It is stylish inside and out, and the powertrain suits this sedan well.

Naturally, this model isn’t a competitor to twin-turbo V6 engines in this class, so keep this point in mind. The GS F fulfills this model’s performance aspirations, but you’ll pay $30,000 more to acquire one.